LAWSUIT: Hikind Sues AOC After She Blocked Him On Twitter

Former Democratic New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind filed a lawsuit against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. in federal court on Tuesday for blocking users on Twitter based on their personal viewpoints, following a federal appeals court ruling earlier in the day barring President Trump from doing the same.

The complaint, obtained by YWN, seeks an injunction against Ocasio-Cortez, a declaration that she violated the First Amendment and an award of attorney’s fees. The complaint focuses on Ocasio-Cortez’s popular and active @AOC account, with more than 4.6 million followers.

The following is a statement given to YWN by Hikind:

“It’s happened. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has blocked me on Twitter yesterday apparently because my critique of her tweets and policies have been too stinging. Just today the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling that elected officials cannot block individuals from their Twitter accounts, thereby setting a precedent that Ocasio-Cortez must follow. Twitter is a public space, and all should have access to the government officials on it. It’s unclear if Ocasio-Cortez is aware of this ruling or not, but either way, I have decided, after speaking with my legal counsel, to initiate a lawsuit against her for blocking me and a host of other public figures.

My gracious lawyers at Weinstein & Weinstein LLP have filed suit in the Federal Courts of the Eastern District of New York so as to remedy the situation. Ocasio-Cortez has no right shutting a citizen out of her public statements or prevent me from seeking redress or petitioning her directly. Ocasio-Cortez is acting cowardly and should be ashamed of her attempts to silence me. I’ve done nothing but address her ignorance and disregard for the truth. She constantly brags about the millions of followers she has but is afraid of my speech. She is a hypocrite.

I’m looking forward to the day where she has to unblock me so that free speech in America is guaranteed even when it offends!”

Trump will probably win on appeal on the grounds that Twitter is private, and the 1st amendment only applies to government action. Facebook and Twitter are under no obligation to be “neutral” or “open to all”. This means Hikind will probably lose, and AOC and Trump will end up on the same side in the Supreme Court.

If Hikind doesn’t have anything better to do than sue this self-styled “socialist” than perhaps the voters of his NYS senate district should elect someone who will focus on their needs instead of this self-promoting PR. He managed to alienate just about every Dem in the Senate and found himself sitting in a back row of the legislative chamber powerless since his former Republican chevrah are now useless.

Akuperma, Trump just lost in the appeals court, because his account is NOT a private one. Twitter is a private company, so it is not subject to the first amendment, but Trump’s account is a government account, so it is. Unless Hikind has evidence that AOC is using her account as an official government forum, his suit should be dismissed with sanctions for wasting everyone’s time with a frivolous motion.